"Dad, this is a truly bountiful harvest! Not only did we catch a snow rabbit, but also this goat. When we take it back to little sister, she'll be overjoyed!" Wang Erlang excitedly said to Old Man Wang beside him, a triumphant smile plastered on his face.
Old Man Wang, however, wasn't as happy as his son after hearing his words. He stopped, looked at Wang Erlang, and gently tapped him on the head with his walking stick, making a "thump" sound.
"Oh my, you're a grown man, yet still so reckless!" Old Man Wang's tone was somewhat stern. "Don't look at how you hunted a wild deer today. But how many mistakes did you make today? I've told you countless times, always think things through, and don't act without absolute certainty. Why can't you calm down!"
Although Old Man Wang's words were stern, a hint of satisfaction gleamed in his eyes. He knew his son was young and impetuous, prone to impulsiveness, but seeing his performance today, he was still quite pleased.
"Dad, if you keep hitting me like this, you'll knock me silly!" Wang Erlang mumbled in a low voice, tightly clutching his head.
"You little rascal, still daring to talk back!" Seeing this, Old Man Wang pretended to strike again, raising his hand high.
"I was wrong, Dad! I truly won't dare to again!" Wang Erlang quickly pleaded.
Once Wang Erlang showed a good attitude in admitting his mistake, Old Man Wang finally lowered his hand with satisfaction and continued walking towards the village with him.
But where Old Man Wang couldn't see, Wang Erlang was making a face, unconcerned.
However, as they stepped into the village, they suddenly felt something was amiss. Usually, at this time, the villagers should be busy working outside, but today, not a single soul was in sight.
"What's going on today? Why is no one here?" Old Man Wang muttered to himself, feeling that something was wrong.
"What's wrong? It's just like before!" Wang Erlang, however, didn't think much of it, merely glancing around casually before saying dismissively.
"You, ah, you truly leave me speechless! As the saying goes, caution catches a hundred-year hunt. Your carelessness will lead to trouble sooner or later!" Old Man Wang glared at Wang Erlang, exasperated.
Just as the two were arguing, they happened to pass by the home of a familiar hunter. Suddenly, a head peeked out from a corner, waving repeatedly at them, while also calling out in a low voice: "Old Man Wang, Old Man Wang!"
"What's wrong, Li Xiazi?" Old Man Wang saw Li Xiazi's head pop out from afar, his expression somewhat panicked, and his heart tightened. He quickly ran over.
"Today, Liu Er humbly brought a young man to your house and they've been there for a while." Li Xiazi said in a low voice as Old Man Wang approached, "Don't be impulsive later!"
Old Man Wang's face instantly turned solemn upon hearing this. He knew Liu Er was an unreliable person, and bringing a strange young man to his house certainly didn't bode well.
"What exactly happened? Speak quickly!" Old Man Wang asked urgently.
Li Xiazi took a deep breath and recounted everything that had happened earlier.
"Oh no, my girl is still at home!" Old Man Wang's face grew even uglier upon hearing this. He suddenly remembered that his young daughter was still at home, and if that young man had any ill intentions, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"What? Which audacious fellow dares to cause trouble at Grandpa's house!" Wang Erlang, young and impetuous, instantly became furious. "Watch me not shoot a few bloody holes in him!"
With that, he threw down the game in his hands, turned, and sprinted towards home like lightning.
"Come back here! Don't be impulsive!" Old Man Wang cried out anxiously, but Wang Erlang was already blinded by rage and couldn't hear him.
Old Man Wang sighed helplessly, then turned to Li Xiazi and said, "Thank you so much this time. If you hadn't reminded me, I wouldn't know what might have happened. After this is over, I will definitely thank you properly."
Having said that, Old Man Wang disregarded everything else and hurried back, chasing after Wang Erlang, silently praying that nothing would happen at home and fearing even more that Wang Er might do something irreversible.
Liu Chen crushed bamboo segments one after another, his anxiety growing. These bamboo segments were like his hope of finding the beast skin map, and with each broken segment, hope gradually faded.
Liu Chen looked at the shattered bamboo pieces scattered on the ground, his heart filled with helplessness and disappointment. He had crushed most of the bamboo segments, yet still hadn't found the beast skin map. He couldn't help but begin to doubt his judgment, wondering if this was just a futile search?
However, just as he was about to give up, he picked up another bamboo segment and crushed it without hesitation. At that moment, he suddenly felt a change in the sensation in his hand. He looked down and was surprised to find a beast skin map falling out of the broken bamboo segment.
He finally found the map he had longed for. He quickly reached out to pick up the map, ready to examine it carefully.
Just then, a hurried sound of footsteps came. Liu Chen looked up and saw Wang Erlang rushing towards him. Wang Erlang's face was filled with anger and anxiety, and his gaze fell upon his little sister, who was being held down by the straw man and was softly sobbing.
Wang Erlang's rage was instantly ignited. He disregarded everything, quickly took down the powerful bow from his back, and gripped it in his hand. His movements were fluid, like flowing clouds and water: drawing the bow, nocking an arrow, and shooting, all in one swift motion.
"You damn fellow, take an arrow from your Grandpa!" Wang Erlang roared, and the arrow shot towards Liu Chen like lightning.
Although Old Man Wang was old, he had been following closely behind Wang Erlang. When he saw this scene, his heart was anxious, and it was too late to stop Wang Erlang.
At this critical moment, the originally lifeless straw Puppet, as if suddenly imbued with Life Qi, abruptly stood up, like an indestructible city wall, firmly blocking Liu Chen's path.
Seeing this, Wang Er was startled, but the powerful arrow shot out like lightning, heading straight for Liu Chen.
This arrow was incredibly powerful, carrying a sharp whistling sound, as if it would tear everything apart.
However, unexpectedly, this powerful arrow pierced through the straw Puppet's body without any obstruction, as if entering an uninhabited realm, flying directly towards Liu Chen's shoulder.
No sooner said than done, Liu Chen was already prepared. A faint white light suddenly appeared on his skin, enveloping him tightly like a protective film.